A long-time Maple Ridge family is grieving the loss of their son and grandson Jordan McIldoon, 23, killed in the mass in Las Vegas, Sunday.
A total of 59 people were killed and more than 500 injured when a gunman with automatic weapons set up in the 32nd-storey window of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and shot at the crowd attending the Route 91 Music Festival.
His parents, Alan and Angela McIldoon, are expected to return to Maple Ridge today with the body of their son. Friends and family are grieving the loss of someone who always helped out.
I stood in the House to acknowledge those impacted by the senseless tragedy that happened in Las Vegas on Sunday evening. My heart goes out to all those affected.
鈥� Dan Ruimy (@DanRuimyMP)
Jordan was to turn 24 on Friday and was just a few weeks away from completing his apprenticeship as a heavy duty mechanic.
His grandmother, Ann Norman, said Jordan was a young man who was doing well and loved his family and girlfriend.
鈥淎nd he loved Amber. And he just loved us all.鈥�
Jordan鈥檚 keys and truck are still at the house, said Norman.
鈥淚鈥檓 just expecting him to come up the driveway.鈥�
She added it was unbelievable that the gunman had so many firearms, 鈥渁nd took all those young people鈥檚 lives and destroyed families all over.鈥�
Alan and Angela McIldoon put out a Tuesday, thanking people for their support.
They said Jordan was at his happiest while at the family鈥檚 cabin at Missezula Lake.
鈥淭here he spent countless hours riding dirt bikes, wakeboarding, snowmobiling and hanging with his friends from the community who were like his family.
鈥淥ur son, Jordan, was a compassionate young man who lived a life full of adventures,鈥� they said.
鈥淔rom a young age, he was fearless. From finding him perched on the roof of the barn at age two or having him leap into the deep end of the lake before he could swim, he was always on the go. He grew up on our acreage in Maple Ridge and so a love of the outdoors was born within him.鈥�
Jordan鈥檚 parents were also grateful to everyone who helped.
鈥淔rom the people who stayed with Jordan that night and held his hand, to the first responders who had to rush in to an unimaginable scene, we would like to thank everyone for their incredible love and support.
鈥淛ordan did his best to make sure Amber was safe and we know he would have helped others had he not been injured himself. His was a life well lived. He was our only child and no words can describe our pain in losing him,鈥� they said.
Dana Nugent has been a neighbour of the family for years.
鈥淛ordan was an incredible guy. He would give you the shirt off his back,鈥� she said.
On one occasion, Nugent showed up at her house with her pickup truck full of furniture and Jordan just marched over and started unloading it. When her truck was making a funny noise, Jordan quickly checked it out.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e the best neighbours you could ever dream of, the whole family.鈥�
Jordan鈥檚 dad Al just mowed her lawn without being asked. Following a storm, they both showed up to clean Nugent鈥檚 yard.
Mayor Nicole Read called the violence 鈥渦nbelievable鈥� and said Maple Ridge hadn鈥檛 even responded to the truck attack in Edmonton Saturday, which injured five, when the mass shooting in Las Vegas occurred.
She extended her sympathies to Jordan鈥檚 parents.
鈥淭o lose a child over this kind of senseless rage and violence 鈥� it鈥檚 just unbelievable. Maple Ridge, though, is good at wrapping love around people after such tragedies, she added.
